A warm welcome to Matt Hodgson, who has recently returned to the Bike About team.
Matt’s life has been a thrilling ride through Australia’s cycling landscape, literally and figuratively. His two-wheeled adventures have taken him across the continent, from competitive racing to trail building, and now back to where it all began.
The Early Years
Matt found his way to the Adelaide Hills twenty years ago, and his cycling story started long before that. A true bike enthusiast, Matt’s career has always revolved around his passion for cycling. He cut his teeth in retail and wholesale bike sales, even working as a sales representative for a wholesale bicycle company. However, the constant travel took its toll, leading Matt to make a pivotal decision.
Little Black Bike
Inspired by his nana’s charming comment, “Do you still ride that little black bike?” Matt opened his own specialist BMX store in Adelaide’s CBD. For nine years, ‘Little Black Bike’ was Matt’s pride and joy, selling BMX stunt bikes to enthusiasts worldwide.
Competitive Cycling
Matt’s love for cycling was wider than the business side. For over three decades, he competed in BMX freestyle, mountain biking, and cross-country.
His competitive spirit took him to events across Australia, including Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane, where he enjoyed considerable success.
Diverse Career Path
Matt’s career has been as varied as the Australian landscape. In the early 2000s, he worked with Jack as a guide for school group excursions with Bike About. He was employed by a wine exporter in McLaren Vale, where he was a jack-of-all-trades, tackling projects from pub renovation to skateboard ramp construction.
Matt’s adaptability and ‘can-do’ attitude made him an excellent project manager, always seeing tasks through to completion.
Trail Blazer
Based in Mt Barker, Matt built mountain bike and walking trails through Australia’s national parks for five years. His work took him across Tasmania, NSW, Victoria, and South Australia. This role required a delicate balance of technical knowledge and interpersonal skills, including understanding hydrology and ecology, establishing relationships with traditional owners, negotiating with park rangers and local councils, and protecting rare flora while creating public access.
Matt’s work helped open some of Australia’s most pristine areas for responsible exploration by cyclists and hikers.
Full Circle: Back to Bike About
In October 2024, Matt’s journey came full circle as he returned to Bike About. Now, he combines his love for cycling with the joy of sharing it with others. Leading tours through the Adelaide Hills, Barossa Valley and the Flinders Ranges, Matt finds himself in his element. Matt, a qualified bike mechanic, recently worked with Dan to maintain Bike About’s fleet of over 100 bikes and e-bikes. His experience and skills ensure that every cyclist on tour has a smooth and enjoyable ride.
Matt’s story is a testament to the power of following one’s passion. From BMX tricks to trail building and guiding cycling enthusiasts through Australia’s beautiful landscapes, Matt’s journey embodies the spirit of adventure that cycling represents.
